704 Unfiltered

With inflation and the burden of high costs, thousands of families in the Charlotte area community are turning to The Salvation Army for support this holiday season. Across the viewing area, The Salvation Army expects to provide gifts to more than 15,000 children this year.

To meet the need, WCNC Charlotte teamed up with Belk and Tropical Smoothie Cafe to help make the holidays magical for everyone with the Magical Toy Drive.

An in person Magical Toy Drive drive-thru event will be hosted by WCNC Charlotte on Saturday, Dec. 9 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. outside of the Belk at Carolina Place, 11009 Carolina Pl Pkwy, Pineville, NC 28134 with team volunteers, store associates, and The Salvation Army. Bring a new, unwrapped toy for children in need and say hello to the WCNC Charlotte team.

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/outreach/make-a-difference/donate-to-these-carolina-nonprofits/275-b23cd700-6eb5-4de7-8bc5-c28367bcdb33

Watch WCNC Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m.

WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with the team at WCNC Charlotte.   

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All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere. 

A new report dives into concerning findings of forever chemicals in freshwater fish nationwide and in the Carolinas. 

KFF Health published a report in USA Today that says many states aren’t warning residents of the toxic chemicals present in waterways and fish. According to the article, North Carolina is one of the 17 states that does notify people, and it’s for good reason. 

There are concerning levels of PFAS, or forever chemicals, found in the Carolinas' rivers and fish. The report cites a national study from about 10 years ago that found catfish in the Catawba River had high levels of forever chemicals.  

"It ain’t like it used to be," fisherman Jeff Rudisill said to WCNC Charlotte. "You used to come over here and catch a bunch of fish and cook ‘em and eat ‘em, you can’t do that anymore," he said before fishing on the Catawba River.  

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/toxic-forever-chemicals-freshwater-fish-regional/275-37bf132f-6026-4b1c-b549-484b116c1bba

Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!

Wake Up Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with the team at Wake Up Charlotte.  

SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeart 

All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere. 

A 19-year-old was arrested in connection with the shooting death of a 14-year-old Garinger High School basketball player, investigators announced. 

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police responded to a shooting at a home on Keswick Avenue in north Charlotte around 7:30 p.m. When officers arrived, they found 14-year-old Johnnie McClendon dead from a gunshot wound. McClendon's family confirmed he was a student at Garinger where he played basketball. 

CMPD identified 19-year-old Myhijee Major as a suspect in the case. Major surrendered to police early Tuesday morning and was taken into custody after an interview. Major was charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with McClendon's killing. Major is expected in court on Wednesday. 

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/charlotte-two-homicides-sunday-cmpd/275-9d7c3b21-9f13-4816-a736-4bb8694f24a3

Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT

Wake Up Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with the team at Wake Up Charlotte.   

SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeart 

All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere. 

A high school student has died and two others are seriously injured after a crash in Mint Hill, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools district confirmed. 

It happened Monday morning near the intersection of Blair Road and Allen Station Drive, about a mile away from Rocky River High School.

CMS released the name of the student who was killed in the crash, as 18-year-old Jovany Escamilla-Salinas. A spokesperson said he played for the high school soccer team. 

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/traffic/mint-hill-crash-blair-road/275-56a7e54d-fca5-4f1d-a83d-d28c59f6632e

Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT 

Wake Up Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with the team at Wake Up Charlotte.   

SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeart 

All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere. 

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is investigating two separate homicides that happened within minutes of each other early Sunday night. Just after 8 p.m., CMPD announced they were investigating a homicide on Snow Lane in east Charlotte. 

Just 10 minutes later, CMPD announced they were investigating a second homicide, on Keswick Avenue in north Charlotte. At the scene of that deadly shooting, CMPD confirmed the victim was 14 years old.

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/charlotte-two-homicides-sunday-cmpd/275-9d7c3b21-9f13-4816-a736-4bb8694f24a3

Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT! 

Wake Up Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with the team at Wake Up Charlotte.   

SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeart 

All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere. 

A decade after the federal government began offering expanded Medicaid coverage in states that opted to accept it, hundreds of thousands of adults in North Carolina are set to receive benefits, a development that boosters say will aid hospitals and local economies in addition to the long-term uninsured.

North Carolina elected officials agreed this year to expand Medicaid, which will provide the government-funded health insurance to adults ages 19 to 64 who make too much money to receive traditional Medicaid but generally not enough to benefit from public subsidies available for private health insurance. The federal government will pay 90% of the cost, as stipulated under the 2010 Affordable Care Act.

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/north-carolina-politics/north-carolina-medicaid-december-2023/275-00479c73-5d99-4acf-ab0b-c9e05f829a83

Taking a closer look at laws going into effect in North Carolina in December: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/north-carolina-politics/north-carolina-december-1-laws-going-into-effect/275-98f1fc8f-86c8-47ec-b49b-ab3b431fc273

Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT! 

Wake Up Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with the team at Wake Up Charlotte.   

SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeart 

All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere. 

American Airlines is joining the race to fight global warming. The iarline is now looking at using sawdust to remove carbon from the atmosphere. Ben Thompson connects the dots on how the Charlotte-based airline is working to offset its carbon emissions without impacting travel costs for passengers.

Spotify Wrapped 2023 has arrived, delivering a personalized recap of what you listened to this past year. Wake Up Charlotte's Kia Murray breaks down Charlotte's biggest songs and artists and we chat about our most-played songs of 2023. HOW TO FIND YOURS: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/how-to-get-your-spotify-wrapped-2023/507-c2e01cf4-99af-4535-8604-933e912c2fd3

Plus, we have the top headlines from across the Carolinas in your morning rush.

Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT! 

Wake Up Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with the team at Wake Up Charlotte.   

SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeart 

All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere. 

All charges have been dropped against Christina Pierre, the woman seen in a video being punched by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers. 

When the video was recorded earlier this month, at least four CMPD officers were restraining Pierre on the ground while a fifth officer punched her multiple times. A second video obtained by WCNC Charlotte showed Pierre being searched before she was put inside a patrol car. 

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/charlotte-viral-arrest-charges-dropped-cmpd/275-3b7b3fb4-5bdf-476c-835d-706040613c13

Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!

Wake Up Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with the team at Wake Up Charlotte.   

SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeart 

All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere. 

The Carolina Panthers have fired first-year head coach Frank Reich after the team fell to 1-10, losing to the Tennessee Titans 17-10. The Carolina Panthers defense forced the Tennessee Titans to punt on every single drive of the second half, but Bryce Young and the Panthers were unable to put together a game-tying drive.

With three minutes remaining in the game, the Panthers had one final chance to tie the game after a big defensive stop. On the would-be clutch drive the Panthers completed three passes without gaining a first down because of a sack that killed any momentum the drive had. Game over.

Just last year, Carolina fell to 1-4, had a home stadium takeover by visiting fans and experienced a blowout loss in the not-so-friendly confines of Bank of America Stadium. That loss was the final straw for the Matt Rhule era and he was promptly fired by owner David Tepper. 

Fast forward one year, and the Panthers went 1-9 after a 33-10 loss to the Cowboys in front of a very pro-Dallas crowd. With fan apathy and rookie quarterback Bryce Young's struggles squarely in the spotlight, it was only a matter of time until Frank Reich was let go. 

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/nfl/panthers/frank-reich-fired-carolina-panthers-head-coach/275-148ed95a-6523-49ff-bfd5-603fd9011a5c

Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!

Wake Up Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with the team at Wake Up Charlotte.   

SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeart 

All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere. 

Casey Parsons, the Salisbury, North Carolina woman who pleaded guilty to killing adoptive daughter Erica Parsons, has been transferred from federal custody. She will now begin serving her life sentence in a North Carolina state prison.

Records from the Federal Bureau of Prisons show Parsons was taken out of federal custody on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. However, it's not clear which state prison in North Carolina she is being transferred to; as of publication on Saturday, Nov. 25, records for Parsons were not available from the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction.

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/erica-parsons/erica-parsons-case-casey-parsons-crime-local-regional/275-11f54ba0-ae28-4103-91a4-2e4f872a6d7d

Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!

Wake Up Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with the team at Wake Up Charlotte.   

SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeart 

All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.